Shepherdstown, West Virginia: Monument to James Rumsey, Father of Steam
James Rumsey invented the steam boat, and all he got was a towering monument in an obscure park.
- Address:
- Rumsey Monument Rd, Shepherdstown, WV
- Directions:
- From Hwy 480/Duke St. in town, turn east onto High St. Drive four blocks. Turn left onto Mill St. Drive two blocks. Turn right onto Rumsey Monument Rd.
- Admission:
- Free
Visitor Tips and News About Monument to James Rumsey, Father of Steam
Reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.
In a quiet park along the Potomac River there is a monument to James Rumsey, American steam engine pioneer. In 1787, Rumsey successfully demonstrated his steam-powered boat in Shepherdstown -- 20 years before Robert Fulton did his steam engine demonstration on the Hudson.
Pretty steamed that Fulton, not Rumsey, was getting all the credit, Shepherdstown's Rumseian Society erected a towering monument in Rumsey's honor in the early 1900s.
The park offers a nice view of the Potomac River, the bridge crossing into the Maryland (also known as the Rumsey Bridge), the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the monument.
[Lakita, 08/07/2014]Nearby Offbeat Places
Little House for Lab Brats, Shepherdstown, WV - < 1 mi.
Official William McKinley Coffee Break Monument, Sharpsburg, MD - 4 mi.
Where to Go in a Nuclear War, Harpers Ferry, WV - 8 mi.Latest Tips Across Roadside America
Catch up on the latest discoveries from the road.
Explore Thousands of Oddball Tourist Attractions!
Unique destinations in the U.S. and Canada are our special obsession. Use our attraction recommendation and maps to plan your next road trip.
